Niagara Falls
Thursday - 10 June 2004 - Niagara Falls, New York:
Last night, as I tried to post my website, there was a terrific thunder and
lightning storm. What is it with us? We arrive in a city with beautiful
weather and bring rain? It is like we are Traveling Oregonian Rain Makers.
We should drive our coach to places experiencing drought. Mayors would hold
parades in our honor! This storm was a doozy. The cracks of
lightning were so loud they were scary - even to me. But it was still so
hot. We didn't have a very restful sleep with all the noise, pouring rain
and sultry heat.
But when we woke up this morning it was chilly! The weather had changed from
mid-nineties to mid-sixties! And it is still raining. While we were having
coffee, Wolfie stopped by to see when we were going to the Falls, so Tom
could plan around our tourist activities. Are these people for real? While
we are out today, they will come over and repair a few things on the outside
of our coach.
We had arranged for the US/Canadian Experience Tour from
Bedore Tours, because it offered the two most important things we wanted
to do and see. First, we wanted to ride on the Maid of the Mist
and we wanted to see the falls from the Canadian-side. Their guide, Bob,
picked us up at the campground and we stopped at another hotel and
campground until we were 9 on the tour: DT and me, a couple from Ohio, a
family from Tucson and a single guy from Oregon on a 2-year RV tour of the
USA. Bob told us everything anyone would ever want, or need, to know about
Niagara Falls. We had a great day. I'm not going to type much tonight -
just photos and quick descriptions of our tour:
Our first stop was the Giant Whirlpool below the falls. The left photo shows
the eddy.
Note the tram suspended over the river - it is the same car used for over
100 years now!
The photo on the right shows the view of the rapids below the falls -
the rapids are rated Class 6 & 7, and no one will raft here.
Next, we went to Goat Island - dividing the
American Falls from the Canadian or Horseshoe Falls.
American Falls, with the Rainbow Bridge in the background
We boarded the
Maid of the Mist and rode past the
American Falls and into Horseshoe Falls. We had
terrible weather, but you get so wet from the falls - weather makes no
difference! They give you a disposable (souvenir or recycle) poncho on the
boat.
The T's on the Maid of the Mist
We crossed over the border, and had to clear Canadian
Immigration. The views of the falls are so pretty from the Canadian side!
The Canadian-side is so much nicer than the American side. Where we have
ugly parking lots, they have beautiful gardens.
Horseshoe Falls
In Canada, we walked in tunnels behind Horseshoe
Falls and could look out to see the water falling. But, seriously,
it was behind zillions of gallons of water falling. No view. Wasn't too
exciting. Kinda creepy, actually, walking in tunnels behind a waterfall. Who
thinks of this stuff? Our guide was fun and knew his facts. He teased me
because I asked him so many questions - but he answered every query. He
dropped us off last - and drove us right to the door of Our Intrigue -
curious to see how we lived. We really had a fun day - all of this took
about 6 hours - and can now say we have seen Niagara Falls! I think it
looked like the photos - except for the blue-sky part - and now I realize
all the good photos are taken from the Canadian side! By the time we arrived
home, it was well past dinner time. Tom and Wolfie had been here! They will
return tomorrow for the "inside" jobs.
It would have been crazy to shuffle back to Buffalo to eat more wings,
right? Yeah, right! Of course, we drove back to Buffalo to eat more wings.
We even sat in the same bar stools. Tonight, the owner came over and asked
if it was true we were here last night too and were from Oregon? Yup, that's
us. He thanked us and bought us a beer!
The Anchor Bar
A "Single Hot"
RV Park:
Niagara Falls Campground
|